I was just checking out Chickering -- it looks like the plan for a married couple is almost $8,000 per year. Please someone tell me that I am wrong.

I priced out the MyBlue FlexBlue 1500 plan and it came out to $5,200. (Full disclosure: I actually work for a company that enrolls people in MyBlue and other Blue Cross plans; you'd think I'd be less shocked at these numbers.)

I understand that the standard student budget can be appealed and increased based on documented costs. Does anyone know if these costs can include the higher premium from including a spouse in the insurance plan?

I'm trying to get some word from the financial aid office on this, but it would be nice to hear any stories from the married folks who have actually gone through this crap.

My question is, if you are going to spend that much time pretending to play an instrument, why not just learn how to play one for real?

I've heard this argument plenty (as have most GH addicts, I'm sure). For one thing, GH is ridiculously easier than playing a real guitar. I'm curious to know why people rarely make analogous arguments about first person shooters or car racing games. I suppose the analogy is tenuous considering the consequences of the former and the expense of the latter. In the end I have to appeal to the sheer enjoyment I get out of the illusion that I'm rocking out.

It's not that simple though. The timing threshold on the notes is much more forgiving in GH3 making hammer-ons and pull-offs much easier (Knights of Cydonia in Hard or Expert will show you what I mean).

As far as raw difficulty, Slayer/Raining Blood on Hard totally has my ass kicked. I ended up moving to Expert and got through Tenacious D/The Metal. The next block is really killer.

Oh God - it's gotten to the point where I no longer allow my boyfriend to talk about Guitar Hero (and Saw - but that's a whole other story) in my presence because his obsession has gotten completely out of hand.

I don't think I need to tell you what will happen if you force him to choose. Also, my wife and I rock co-op mode. Should we prove to be fertile, I see a rock band in our future.